Ama
/ˈɑː.mə/noun
A Japanese woman who traditionally dives underwater to collect shellfish, seaweed, or other marine products.
Did you know?Some ama communities traditionally wore white garments, once believed to protect against evil spirits and symbolize purity, though the practice also had practical and cultural meanings.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
ama (海人)
“A person associated with the sea, including a fisher or free diver”
8th Century
Old Japanese
ama-bito (海人)
“Sea person or marine worker, a poetic term appearing in early Japanese literature”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
ama (海女)
“A female sea worker or diver; the character combination literally identifies a woman of the sea”
Edo Period
Japanese
ama
“Traditional female breath-hold diver who gathered shellfish and seaweed”
20th Century
English
ama
“A Japanese female diver, adopted as a cultural and ethnographic loanword”
Modern English
English
ama
“A Japanese woman who dives for marine products, especially in traditional communities”